ASIA PACIFIC COLLEGE OF ADVANCED STUDIES

A.H. Banzon St., Ibayo, City of Balanga, Bataan

COLLEGE DEPARTMENT

CAMPUS JOURNALISM
Week 4- LECTURE

WHAT IS FEATURE WRITING?

Features are not meant to deliver the news firsthand. They do contain elements of news, but
their main function is to humanize, to add color, to educate, to entertain, to illuminate. They
often recap major news that was reported in a previous news cycle.

TYPES OF FEATURE WRITING:

As stated previously, feature stories have a wide array of forms and styles, hence, the
following types.

1. PERSONALITY PROFILES
● Also called CHARACTER SKETCH.
● Interviews and observations, as well as creative writing, are used to paint a vivid
picture of the person.
● A good profile includes impressions, explanations and points of view. It should
emphasize what is unique about the person. You can use a flashback technique or
highlight the individual's many roles.
● Some books differ in nomenclature; others regard this as profile feature. Silver screen
celebrities, political figures, athletes, beauty titlist these are the popular choices for
personality sketch. Notably, people are interested in people, so much so, articles
written about them, especially about their private lives, and secrets are much
sought-after and read by their fans. However, simple persons may be highlighted
through the use of this kind of feature story.
2. HUMAN INTEREST STORIES
● A human interest story is written to show a subject's oddity or its practical, emotional,
or entertainment value.
● Sometimes called “concerned story," it deals with minor incidents that deserve
attention because of dramatic, humorous, tragic, sensational or unusual (odd) angle of
the story. This kind of feature story appeals to the emotion, it may have a lesser news
value, but it enjoys wide readership because of its human appeal. Primarily, it exposes
burning issues which need urgent solutions. It also shows the magnitude of the
problem through cases, anecdotes and quotable quotes, This feature highlights the
 dramatic condition and experiences of certain groups of people. Further, it is written
using heart-piercing presentations, which evoke emotional responses to the readers.
3. TREND STORIES
● A trend story examines people, things or organizations that are having an impact on
society. Trend stories are popular because people are excited to read or hear about
the latest fads.
4. IN-DEPTH STORIES
● Through extensive research and interviews, in depth stories provide a detailed
account well beyond a basic news story or feature.
5. BACKGROUNDERS
● also called an analysis piece--adds meaning to current issues in the news by
explaining them further. These articles bring an audience up-to-date, explaining how
this country, this organization, this person happens to be where it is now.
6. INFORMATIVE FEATURE
● This gives information on subject of current interest. This feature is usually
based on interview and research.
7. NEWS FEATURE
● It gets its materials from current events, covering details that were omitted by
the news.
8. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
● This tells of some unusual true-to-life experiences written in the first person
account.
9. HOW-TO AND WHAT-TO-DO FEATURES
● They are educational in essence. They provide knowledge about process or
activity. Most often, they showcase step-by-step procedure in doing something.

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD FEATURE

1. Choose the theme.

• Does the story have holding power (emotional appeal)? What makes the story worthy
of being reported? The theme answers the question, "So what?"
2. Write a lead that invites an audience into the story.
• A summary may not be the best lead for a feature. The first two or three paragraphs
set a mood, arouse readers, or invite them inside.
3. Write the body
• Then the news peg or the significance of the story is provided in the third or fourth
paragraph, the nut graph. Because it explains the reason the story is being written,
the nut graph--also called the "So what" graph--is a vital paragraph in every feature.
 Useful tips

● Some good feature leads include: Narrative, Descriptive, Striking statement and
Punch or astonisher
● Be clear about why you are writing the article. Is it to inform, persuade, observe,
evaluate, or evoke emotion?
● FOCUS! Whenyou prepare for your feature story, you will gather a large amount of
information through interviews and background research. Before you begin writing,
focus on the main idea. WHY??? Because focusing will narrow your topic
● After writing the lead, you need a structure in which to place the information. A
structure is an organizational pattern used to synthesize, that is to establish
relationships between relevant pieces of information.
● Provide vital background information. If appropriate, a paragraph or two of
background should be placed high in the story to bring the audience up to date.
● Write clear, concise sentences. Sprinkle direct quotations, observations and
additional background throughout the story. Paragraphs can be written
chronologically or in order of importance. Be creative, watch, & listen..
● Read & Research
● Keep up to date, take notes and play with words!
● Use transition. Connect paragraphs with transitional words, paraphrases, and direct
quotations.
● Transition is the tool writers use to move subtly from one person or topic to the
next. IT keeps readers from being jarred by the writing.

Find the right VOICE

● When you write a story, you take on a persona, or character. You must choose a
voice that best imparts the information in that story.
● The choice you make becomes the tone, or mood of the story, and it should always
match the content. For instance, you would not use humor to write about a tragic
auto accident.

REMEMBER!
● The bodyprovides vital information while it educates, entertains, and emotionally
ties an audience to the subject.
● The endingwill wrap up the story & come back to the lead, often with a quotation or
a surprising climax. Conclude with a quotation or another part of the thread.A
feature can trail off like a news story or it can be concluded with a climax.

https://www.slideshare.net/kitinkin/feature-writing-3072104